2013 Term 2 Week 2 - Tracing the Gospel from Genesis

The Gospel didn't suddenly appear with Jesus. It is the story God has been telling from the very beginning.

When sin entered our reality God had to distance himself from us, lest we be destroyed. We see the eviction from Eden as punishment when it is grace. If sin remains in God's presence it is destroyed. God found a way to sustain us even though we are sinful. The downside is that it required a separation between God and humanity. A separation that was necessary for our protection. Right from the beginning of our rebellion God was saving us from the eternal consequences of our rejection of God.

2013 Term 2 Week 1 - Gospel of Love

We don't love something/someone because they are worthy of it. It is not that this person or object demands our love due to some intrinsic value. Rather it has value because it is loved.

God loves us not because we are loveable, rather because God is love. God gives from an abundance.

Humanity didn't force God to rescue us. It is because God loves us that he was compelled to rescue us.

We are the object of the Gospel, not the subject. The Gospel is about God's love. We are the object of this love. We aren't the heroes in this story. If we have a role in this story it is that of the enemy. And God's love ignores whatever role we might try to bring to the story and loves us regardless.